Diabate bags brace as Mali overcome Black Stars to finish third

It was sweet victory. It’s good we’ve won a medal, says striker after win against Ghana

Celebrations after the final whistle in the Equatorial Guinea capital showed just how much Mali wanted this third-place victory.

The Eagles leaped on top of one another in celebration while coach Alain Giresse sported a wide grin. It was a deserved victory as Mali has enjoyed their best Nations Cup since finishing runners-up 40 years ago.

In truth, few Eagles fans expected their team to soar this far.

Revenge is best served cold and the Malians were equally elated to atone for their 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Black Stars in the group stages, inflicting a similar defeat against their fancied opponents.

Bordeaux forward Cheick Diabate scored in each half to give his coach a reason of dancing defeated at the final whistle. “We have done it. It was a sweet victory and revenge as well,” Diabate said. “At least, we have won a medal.”

Diabate poked in a rebound midway through the opening half and tapped home a cross with 10 minutes left after Ghana defender Isaac Vorsah was sent off for a second caution.

Four changes

Ghana made four changes with suspensions ruling out defender John Boye and midfielder Derek Boateng, while striker Asamoah Gyan, who missed a penalty in the semi-final loss to Zambia, was also missing in action.

On their part, Mali also had four new faces compared to the side that took Cote d’Ivoire to the wire in the other semi-final. Goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko, Ousmane Coulibaly, Abdoulaye Maiga and Garra Dembele were in the first 11. Ghana dominated the cagey early exchanges at a sparsely populated Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, only to fall behind midway through the opening half.

A clever corner routine saw the kick from Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita find Bakaye Traore just outside the box and when Adam Kwarasey failed to grasp his low drive, Diabate reacted quickest to poke the ball over the line.

Ayew brothers

Kojo Asamoah delivered a 30metre effort after six minutes, but it was well off target. Moments later, Mohammed Abu also had a crack from similar distance, which also failed to trouble reserve goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko, playing in place of regular number one Soumail Diakite.

There could have been a second goal for the Eagles 10 minutes later as a swift counter exposed the Black Stars defence, but when Adam Kwarasey failed to hold a low Samba Diakate shot, there was no Malian to take advantage this time.

It was calm on the pitch as both sides settled into their stride. Jordan Ayew seemed to be the furthest forward for Ghana, with his brother Dede also playing very centrally. In the 20th minute, a mix-up in the Ghana defence almost allowed Moussa Dembele a chance to poke past Kwarasey, but the goalkeeper came out well to gather.

After the goal, there wasn’t much to see from Ghana in a way of reaction. Instead, Mali had more possession in their opponents’ final third. The Ayew brothers were very much leading the line, which was a new system from the Black Stars. Perhaps coach Goran Stevanovic was using this game as a trial for this year’s 2013 Nations Cup and 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Diabate scored his second of the night, and third of the tournament, after Adama Tamboura was cleverly played in down the left wing from central midfield. Not for the first time at these finals, Tamboura delivered a fine cross which Diabate converted to draw level with the likes of Didier Drogba, Christopher Katongo and Emmanuel Mayuka as the joint top-scorers at the tournament.

Manucho, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Houssine Kharja are also on three.

Four-time champions Ghana has now finished third, second and fourth in the last three African Cups and hasn’t won the title for 30 years.